FE Gurus needed!
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 1
From: Kingsport, TN
Am in a similiar situation, rebuilding a 390. Taking out a (alleged) 360 and putting in a 390. Have both engines out and the push-rods are the SAME length - the pistons are different height from the pins. Both engines have been rebuilt at some time. My 250 SC had a 360 in it - somebody may have rebuilt it OR installed a car 390. The 390 pistons top out at about 0.9 below deck and the head chamber is about 70+ cc. I want to up the HP a bit but will use it for hauling & such. A 600CFM Holley will top off te 'built' engine. Any other suggestions ? Thanx - Geo.
FE "Freakin Expensive"
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 4
From: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Geogre just order a set of 60's something pistons for a 390 car in the bore size you end up with..after the machine shop cleans up all the sealing surface's...make sure your rocker assy is in good working order and not worn...new bearings and timing set, Oil Pump (cheap insurance) maybe upgrade the cam a notch or two....and run it...But it all depends again on how "Deep" you want to get ?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: NW Wisconsin
Just a suggestion...Ihavent been thru all the updates with what you doing..But on that cam from summit..I think if "I" were to be useing stcok heads..I'd go with a split lift and duration cam , Just to try and help exhaust flow a tad bit..
But as John Said (Argess) lets see what you end up with as far as good parts go before we start building a Top Fuel Truck ! LOL... another thing is what kind of fuel (octane wise) is available there in WI. where you live ? are you just wanting to pay for regular or can you afford to step up to the high octane ?
You said you ask for Ford FE guru's..But to do what with ? you never mentioned anything that I read that said what you were looking to do other than making it run with a thumper idle ? Hell you can to that by pulling a plug wire..LOL..Just joking here..
You never mentioned what kind of money you were looking to put into this 360 to change it over to a 390.. Like John said..there's so many way to get to the same point..thats its hard to set down and just say well do this and that and it'll cost X amount and thats what you want..
If I were you... I'd check and see what a decent FE machinist will charge you for doing you block....the right way if you plan on keeping the truck? Like in my screename its say "FE" Freakin Expensive...thats the truth not just a saying... I realize you are a rookie as I once was.. But the hardest part about a build ..unless you have your heart set on a Full blown street rod build.. Is finding out just what you want...and what you want the truck to do..Just a driver > street/strip ? If its just a driver..call a local advanced auto and have them go thru thewre re-man people and have the re-man install a slightly bigger cam.. Easy..drop off your core and install the new motor and be done with it..
As most FE machinist will want to get the block Just right..and Machine time and set-up time cost $$$$$..for another few bucks you can buy a re-man motor with a warranty ! Now thats not my style..but this isnt my first rodeo either..even I would have to think twice about that for a daily driver... It'll be easy to dump $1500 in just machine work...JMO.. Good luck and keep us posted..
But as John Said (Argess) lets see what you end up with as far as good parts go before we start building a Top Fuel Truck ! LOL... another thing is what kind of fuel (octane wise) is available there in WI. where you live ? are you just wanting to pay for regular or can you afford to step up to the high octane ?
You said you ask for Ford FE guru's..But to do what with ? you never mentioned anything that I read that said what you were looking to do other than making it run with a thumper idle ? Hell you can to that by pulling a plug wire..LOL..Just joking here..
You never mentioned what kind of money you were looking to put into this 360 to change it over to a 390.. Like John said..there's so many way to get to the same point..thats its hard to set down and just say well do this and that and it'll cost X amount and thats what you want..
If I were you... I'd check and see what a decent FE machinist will charge you for doing you block....the right way if you plan on keeping the truck? Like in my screename its say "FE" Freakin Expensive...thats the truth not just a saying... I realize you are a rookie as I once was.. But the hardest part about a build ..unless you have your heart set on a Full blown street rod build.. Is finding out just what you want...and what you want the truck to do..Just a driver > street/strip ? If its just a driver..call a local advanced auto and have them go thru thewre re-man people and have the re-man install a slightly bigger cam.. Easy..drop off your core and install the new motor and be done with it..
As most FE machinist will want to get the block Just right..and Machine time and set-up time cost $$$$$..for another few bucks you can buy a re-man motor with a warranty ! Now thats not my style..but this isnt my first rodeo either..even I would have to think twice about that for a daily driver... It'll be easy to dump $1500 in just machine work...JMO.. Good luck and keep us posted..
I was just given a 390 with good crank, rods, and 4 barrel intake. I want to put them into my block.
As far as power, The truck is mainly going to be a cruiser, driving it around town and to the cities(about 80 miles one way) and maybe a little showing off.
picture a pretty much stock truck with good sound and a little tire roasting now and then.
I want the lopy idle because I really love the sound.
FE "Freakin Expensive"
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 4
From: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Well Ern, I dont know what to tell you...I think the last time I just took parts from a unknown motor (That I didnt build) and take the parts out of it and stick it into a motor I already had...I was about 12 ...and that was a 235 six Chev. motor..and it smoked like a ****.... So I have never been the lucky one as with some of my Auto shop friends that just took parts off of one and stuffed them into another and got lucky, It ran..But for how long with out going thru everything and checking.. Some people can polish a turd and it comes out ok..Never been my luck.. So I couldnt advise someone else to do what I wont do .. Maybe I'am just too particular..But there's just to much that can go wrong useing a bunch of used parts without checking specs..and even the its a crap shoot..Hell new parts break even with the best builders..So I dont take anymore chances than I need to..
I still think if it were me...and I had a limited amount of FE knowlege and budget...I would spend $1700 + or - at Advanced auto and tell them you have a 67 Mustang GT with a 390 in it..and you want to replace the motor.. you'll probably get one with a D4 block and some C8 heads...3 yr. 36K warranty..and just run the **** out of the truck with it new found 300+ hp... JMO
I still think if it were me...and I had a limited amount of FE knowlege and budget...I would spend $1700 + or - at Advanced auto and tell them you have a 67 Mustang GT with a 390 in it..and you want to replace the motor.. you'll probably get one with a D4 block and some C8 heads...3 yr. 36K warranty..and just run the **** out of the truck with it new found 300+ hp... JMO
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 3
From: Chesapeake, Va.
I think that is as good of a piece of advice as you will find anywhere. I don't know of any experienced wrench or engine builder that would consider what you are thinking if doing. Buy a motor from Advance Auto and enjoy your truck. At this point I don't believe you have any idea how deep of a cow pat you are stepping into. You can rebuild the engine you have in your spare time but in the mean time you could enjoy your truck. If your build turns out to be a really great engine you can always swap it back into your truck.
You might do a search for "Earls Story" as it gives a great amount of info on exactly what you are trying to accomplish. He had more than 10 years and $15,000 into the truck and didn't have the body done yet. He gave the truck away to another member of the forum.
You might do a search for "Earls Story" as it gives a great amount of info on exactly what you are trying to accomplish. He had more than 10 years and $15,000 into the truck and didn't have the body done yet. He gave the truck away to another member of the forum.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: NW Wisconsin
Well Ern, I dont know what to tell you...I think the last time I just took parts from a unknown motor (That I didnt build) and take the parts out of it and stick it into a motor I already had...I was about 12 ...and that was a 235 six Chev. motor..and it smoked like a ****.... So I have never been the lucky one as with some of my Auto shop friends that just took parts off of one and stuffed them into another and got lucky, It ran..But for how long with out going thru everything and checking.. Some people can polish a turd and it comes out ok..Never been my luck.. So I couldnt advise someone else to do what I wont do .. Maybe I'am just too particular..But there's just to much that can go wrong useing a bunch of used parts without checking specs..and even the its a crap shoot..Hell new parts break even with the best builders..So I dont take anymore chances than I need to..
I still think if it were me...and I had a limited amount of FE knowlege and budget...I would spend $1700 + or - at Advanced auto and tell them you have a 67 Mustang GT with a 390 in it..and you want to replace the motor.. you'll probably get one with a D4 block and some C8 heads...3 yr. 36K warranty..and just run the **** out of the truck with it new found 300+ hp... JMO
I still think if it were me...and I had a limited amount of FE knowlege and budget...I would spend $1700 + or - at Advanced auto and tell them you have a 67 Mustang GT with a 390 in it..and you want to replace the motor.. you'll probably get one with a D4 block and some C8 heads...3 yr. 36K warranty..and just run the **** out of the truck with it new found 300+ hp... JMO
I am Taking a 390 crank and rods from a motor, getting the crank reground, making sure the rods are good. Then buying new pistons, cam and a bunch of other parts.
The 390 I can get is coming from a guy that I trust.
It will be expensive but I can do it piece by piece instead of drop a couple grand on a replacement, and this way I will still have the original block in the truck.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: nicholasville, ky
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